Contents: The technological process of timber harvest and utilization of numerous timber and non-timber products are focussed on. The process of timber harvest is explained as a socio-economic and technical system. Approaches for the production of forest produce, for the transportation as well as for conducting and controlling forestry operations are dealt with. Tropical timber is identified based on its anatomical structure, physical and mechanical properties are characterised, and possible wood uses are derived. Approaches for wood processing technologies and wood utilization are introduced. Non-timber products are dealt with according to the groups of utilization. Gaining and utilizing of selected non-timber products from natural forests and forest plantations is discussed and preconditions are determined regarding their domestication.

The utilization of forest is categorized into systems of sustainable forest management.

Goals of qualification: The student has acquired special knowledge of the principles and systematic approaches to harvest, storage and processing of timber as well as of non-timber products obtained from natural forests and forest plantations in the tropics. He is able to determine tropical timber species and has a proper command of non-timber products of tropical forests including their potential for sustainable forest management. He is capable of developing and controlling without any extraneous help technological processes for forest utilization and management as well as of developing ennoblement of products, with the main emphasis in the areas of the use of machinery and devices for forestry operation, timber harvest, wood processing, optimisation of utilization of timber.

The examination performance optionally consists of the seminar paper (20 hours) or the written report (20 hours) and the oral examination performance (20 minutes).